The Infotech Bridges Limited in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Federal Ministry of Justice have carried out a sensitization advocacy programme on drug abuse among youths in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano state.
The program was aimed at promoting mental health awareness within targeted communities and educating over 150 participants about the dangers and attendant implication of using and consuming illegal drugs among young people.
In his address at the event, Chief Executive Officer, Infotech Bridges Limited, Mr. Ethel Odimegwu encouraged participants to receive the lectures with open minds and adopt positive live changes.
He noted that the training would help to educate participants on the symptoms and dangers of drug abuse through relevant and tested techniques and intervention approaches in view of the cultural context of the region.
Also speaking, Kano State Commander of NDLEA, Abubakar Idris Ahmed lamented the high prevalence rate of drugs in the area, adding that the training would help educate underage drinking, abuse of prescription drugs (pain killers) by youth, and abuse of alcohol.
On his part, the Consultant and representative of the Senate Committee on Drugs and narcotics, Amb. Kenneth Anetor, said the Initiative was part of the commitment of a ‘New Thing International Foundation’ made during the first program and in line with their policy of discouraging consumption and abuse of hard drugs among youth in Kano.
The Assistant Manager for the Adolescent Health and Information, Mr Usman Garko Bello commended the organizers of the programme, just as he advocated for more support towards drug misuse sensitization.
Some of the recommendations made at the end of the event included affordable and accessible drug treatment (evidence based) be available for people with drug use disorders, scaling up a comprehensive package of services for prevention, treatment and care of HIV among people who use drugs in community and prison settings.
